Road Closures Due To Weather [READ CURRENT REPORT]

Tallahassee FL-Schools weren't the only thing shut down today. Many roads were closed as well, because of the weather. Freezing temperatures and sleet shut down a huge stretch of 1-10-- from Tallahassee to Pensacola.

"My wife was expecting me home tonight for some homemade fried chicken and mashed potatoes...Whelp, There goes that idea," Larry Johnson, one Truck driver from Mississippi told us.

He was one of the hundreds of travelers and Truck Drivers are stranded in the Big Bend following the shut down of nearly two hundred and seventy miles or road along I-10 spanning from Monticello, Florida to Mobile, Alabama.

"This is supposed to be Florida. It's supposed to be 70 or 80 degrees. Not twenty nine with snow sleet and freezing rain and all that garbage," said Johnson.

Freezing rain coupled with dropping temperatures leads to freezing roads which mean the possibility of black ice. As Mark Welch with the Florida Highway Patrol explained, "When you get to the overpasses that have frozen over and you hit that patch of ice...You were talking about that friction earlier that's where you loose friction. And the car is not going to go where you want it to go and it's going to end up hitting the walls."

Johnson told us him and the truckers made it, "As far as Tallahassee here this morning they shut it down. I never seen anything like it throughout the whole southeast. You know? The roads are closed from here all the way to Jackson I can't get home."

Although many are stuck, others are prospering from highway shutdown, including area restaurants and gas stations. The manager of the Denny's manager, Aunial Almonoo said, "Well today I came in and I've been having you know some business while the roads are being closed and it's really to our advantage."

We were told this Denny's hasn't seen this much traffic in awhile so despite the weather causing delay's for truckers things are good for local businessmen.

The Florida Department of Transportation told us they are working with Florida Highway Patrol to monitor the roadways and are hoping to open the roads up by tomorrow or Friday. We will be following this story as it develops.

News Release: Florida Department of Transportation

Chipley –Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews are diligently working to maintain and keep all roads passable in Northwest Florida. As the wintery mixture moves east, freezing rain has forced the closure of Interstate 10 (I-10) in the Panhandle. At this time, Interstate 10 (I-10) is closed to all traffic in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden, Leon and Jefferson Counties, from the Florida/Alabama state line east to Mile Marker 233 near County Road 257 in Jefferson County. I-10 rest areas are open and facilities accessible.

Tolls remain suspended until further notice, on the Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County. Regional road advisories are posted on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) on Interstate 10 in Pensacola and Tallahassee. Overhead Message Boards are posting roadway information in Bay County.

Weather conditions continue to deteriorate creating hazardous road conditions. FDOT encourages residents to stay indoors and avoid venturing out unless it is an emergency. Drivers may call Florida 511 from their mobile phones. Additionally, updates will be provided as conditions develop at the following: www.FL511.com; @myfdot_nwfl; d3sunguide.com.

Updated By: FHP

January 29, 2014, 9:30pm

I-10 is shut down from Escambia County to Mile Marker 233 near Monticello.

News Release: Tallahassee Police Department

Due to the weather, TPD has portions of several roadways shutdown in Tallahassee. TPD is asking all motorists to stay off the road as the temperature is dropping and wet roadways are beginning to ice over.

The following roadways are currently closed:

Apalachee Parkway between Calhoun and Franklin Boulevard

Capital Circle Northeast to Raymond Diehl Road

Additionally, motorists are urged to avoid Orange Avenue and SpringHill Road as there are several areas of ice that pose a risk to drivers.

News Release: Florida Department of Transportation

Chipley – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is providing an update on road and bridge closures and restrictions in Northwest Florida due to wintery weather conditions. FDOT crews are diligently working to open and keep all roads passable in Northwest Florida. All efforts are dependent on weather conditions. Roads and bridges will remain open as longs as corridors remain safe.

At this time, Interstate 10 (I-10) remains closed to all traffic in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden County, from the Florida/Alabama state line east to Mile Marker 192 in Midway (Gadsden County). I-10 Rest areas are open and facilities accessible.

Updates are as follows:

Bay County

U.S. 98 Hathaway Bridge – One lane open in each direction across the bridge, expect closures as temperatures decrease. Use extreme caution.

State Road 20 Apalachicola River Bridge between Blountstown and Bristol is closed.

Okaloosa County

State Road 189 (Lewis Turner Boulevard) from Ranger Camp to General Bond is closed.

U.S. 98 Brooks Bridge is closed.

State Road 293 at Mid Bay Bridge closed to traffic.

U.S. 98 Marler (East Pass) Bridge restricted access, use caution.

Walton County

State Road 285 from I-10 to Bob Sikes Road, closed to traffic.

Tolls are suspended until further notice, on the Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has opened a call center to assist motorists in Northwest Florida. Drivers should dial toll-free 888-638-0250 and ask for extension 1199 or dial direct to (850) 330-1199. The center will be operational until 8 p.m. CST, Wednesday, Jan. 29 and from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30.

Drivers may call Florida 511 from their mobile phones. Additionally, updates will be provided as conditions develop at the following: www.FL511.com; @myfdot_nwfl; d3sunguide.com.

News Release: Florida Department of Transportation

Chipley – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is providing an update on road and bridge closures and restrictions in Northwest Florida due to wintery weather conditions. FDOT crews are diligently working to open and keep passable all roads in Northwest Florida. All efforts are dependent on weather conditions.

At this time, Interstate 10 (I-10) remains closed to all traffic in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, and Gadsden County from the Florida/Alabama state line east to Mile Marker 192 in Midway (Gadsden County). I-10 Rest areas are open and facilities accessible.

State Road 20 Apalachicola River Bridge between Blountstown and Bristol is closed.

Okaloosa County

State Road 189 (Lewis Turner Boulevard) from Ranger Camp to General Bond is closed.

U.S. 98 Brooks Bridge is closed.

State Road 293 at Mid Bay Bridge closed to traffic.

U.S. 98 Marler (East Pass) Bridge restricted access, use caution.

Walton County

State Road 285 from I-10 to Bob Sikes Road, closed to traffic.

Tolls are suspended until further notice, on the Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has opened a call center to assist motorists in Northwest Florida. Drivers should dial toll-free 888-638-0250 and ask for extension 1199 or dial direct to (850) 330-1199. The center will be operational until 8 p.m. CST, Wednesday, Jan. 29 and from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30.

State Road 20 Apalachicola River Bridge between Blountstown and Bristol closed to all traffic

Okaloosa County

State Road 189 (Lewis Turner Boulevard) from Ranger Camp to General Bond is closed

U.S. 98 Brooks Bridge is closed

State Road 85 from Live Oak Road to U.S. 90

State Road 293 at Mid Bay Bridge

U.S. 98 Marler Bridge

Walton County

U.S. 98 at Phillips Inlet Bridge is closed to traffic.

U.S. 331 / S.R. 83 from SR 2 to CR 185 is closed by local law enforcement due to icy conditions.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has opened a call center to assist motorists in Northwest Florida. Drivers should dial toll-free 888-638-0250 and ask for extension 1199 or dial direct to (850) 330-1199. The center is operational until 4 p.m. CST, Wednesday, Jan. 29 and from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30.

Drivers may call Florida 511 from their mobile phones. Additionally, updates will be provided as conditions develop at the following: www.FL511.com; @myfdot_nwfl; d3sunguide.com.

FDOT: Road Advisory Update

WHAT: Roadway Closure

WHERE: I-10 at the Apalachicola River Bridge

WHEN: Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Florida Highway Patrol has closed both eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 10 at the Apalachicola River Bridge due to dangerous icing conditions caused by wintry weather. Eastbound traffic is being detoured to US-90 via State Road 69 at the 152 mile marker. Westbound traffic is being detoured to US-90 at mile marker 192.

FDOT: Road Advisory Update

Currently, several roads and bridges on the state highway system in Northwest Florida are closed including nearly 200 miles of Interstate 10 (I-10) from the FL/AL line east to mile marker 181 in Gadsden County. FDOT is concentrating all efforts on keeping traffic on U.S. 90 flowing east and west in the panhandle.

Equipment is loaded with dry sand and crews are deployed to affected areas. Crews are monitoring closed roadways for conditions and stranded motorists.

Motorists are reminded to be watchful of other drivers and road conditions and to be on the lookout for iced roads. The combination of moisture and freezing temperatures are ideal to form patches of ice on roads. Drivers should remain alert and drive with care. Drivers are reminded to use caution and drive at a reduced speed during this time.

Drivers may call Florida 511 from their mobile phones. Additionally, updates will be provided as conditions develop at the following: www.FL511.com; @myfdot_nwfl; d3sunguide.com.

Currently, crews are deployed throughout the district monitoring state roads and bridges. Dry sand is being spread at identified locations. Tolls are anticipated to be reinstated on the Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County and Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 8 a.m. CST

Motorists are reminded to be watchful of other drivers and road conditions and to be on the lookout for iced roads. The combination of moisture and freezing temperatures are ideal to form patches of ice on roads. Drivers should remain alert and drive with care. Drivers are reminded to use caution and drive at a reduced speed during this time.

Drivers may call Florida 511 from their mobile phones. Additionally, updates will be provided as conditions develop at the following: www.FL511.com; @myfdot_nwfl; d3sunguide.com.

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